Hey there, We're The Woodpecker!

Escape Into The Wild is blog of Viral Patel and Pankaj Maheria's wildlife photography include animal, bird, marine life, insect and other. We click with Nikon D500, Nikon D7100 and Nikon B700 in sanctuaries of Gujarat and India.!

It was a usual
wonderful summer morning at outskirts of Thol Bird Sanctuary until we notice
this beautiful snake swimming swiftly in one of the small pond, well hidden in
vegetation. And our morning become most unusual when we saw snake hunt a toad…
it was heart stopping and scarier….! We were busy in bird photography when we
register some light movements between the water plants. Instantly we locate Indian
rat snake-eyes already fixed on us…it seems like snake locate us before we
can…! We know it is non-venomous but we also know rat snakes can give a painful
bite and quick to defend, we just stick to the same place. After some time its
slide away very fast and disappears. Only to reappear with freshly caught toad
from muddy water. Indian rat snake hunts by moving fast with its head high
above the surface. Black interscale
stripes are visible on the underside at this time. We heard the large one growl
using throat when Indian rat snake resurface before small mournful ‘mow’ sound
made by dying toad. Indian rat snake was eating a live toad and this isn’t
hurting it. Actually rat snake was using body weight to weaken toad while swallow
it very slowly and deliberately. This Dil-dhadak show was over just in few
minutes. After swallowing the whole toad, snake quickly crosses the trail which
was exactly situated in front of us. We can clearly see uneven skin and big
lumps made by eaten prey in snake’s body. Finally Dhaman was rapidly slide
towards dense bushes to hide.

Canon SX50HS

Ptyas mucosa,
commonly known as the Oriental rat snake, Indian rat snake or Dhaman is a
common species of colubrid snake found in parts of South and Southeast Asia.
Dhamans are large snakes, growing to 2 m (6.6 ft) and occasionally even to 3 m
(9.8 ft). Their colour varies from pale browns in dry regions to nearly black
in moist forest areas. Dhamans are diurnal, semi-arboreal, non-venomous, and
fast-moving. Dhamans eat a variety of prey and are frequently found in urban
areas where rodents thrive.

Though harmless
to humans, Dhamans are fast-moving, excitable snakes attempting to strike at
passing objects. They are large, which grow to a length of 2 ½ meters or more;
found wherever rats and frogs/toads are prevalent. So, they are often found in
rice fields and in human habitation. Appearance and behaviour of Dhaman is
misinterprets in human settlements, as for a venomous snake and usually get
killed. Venomous or non-venomous we surely bet most of you know the
consequences of a snake that is sighted by humans. Non-Venomous snakes like
Dhaman are obviously harmless and helpers to farmers, which is hard for common
man to believe, as they consider any snake as lethal…deadly… concluded in be
sure to kill….!